Automatic solar power surface-cleaner

Abstract

Various embodiments herein include at least one of systems, methods, and software to facilitate automatic solar power surface-cleaning. Such embodiments include at least one automatic solar power surface-cleaning robot that uses no water or external power, continuously cleans the solar power surfaces and requires no maintenance or external power. The solar power surface-cleaning robot is easy to retrofit in an existing solar power generation plant. An automatic solar power surface-cleaner uses high-voltage AC electric fields to sweep particulates and debris as the robot traverses the surface to be cleaned. Photovoltaic solar cells supply the power for the robot. No external power is required. The robot clamps to the surface to be cleaned at the edges using motor driven rollers. Electronics inside the device generate high-voltage AC that is applied to conductors close to the surface to be cleaned.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A solar power surface-cleaner system, comprising:
 a motor; 
 electronics including a first cleaning head, the first cleaning head including:
 a first positive conductor and a first negative conductor; 
 a second positive conductor and a second negative conductor, wherein the second positive conductor and the second negative conductor are arranged between the first positive conductor and the first negative conductor; 
 a first high-voltage supply connected to the first positive conductor and to the first negative conductor; 
 a second high-voltage supply connected to the second positive conductor and to the second negative conductor; and 
 a controller configured to actuate the motor to move the first cleaning head with respect to the solar power surface, to activate the first high-voltage supply to apply a first multiphase high-voltage waveform to the first positive conductor and to the first negative conductor using a first duty cycle, and to activate the second high-voltage supply to apply a second multiphase high-voltage waveform to the second positive conductor and to the second negative conductor using a second duty cycle, wherein the first duty cycle is out of phase with the second duty cycle; and 
 
 a power generator including at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein the power generator is configured to:
 power the motor to move the first cleaning head with respect to a solar power surface; 
 power the controller; and 
 power the first and second high-voltage supplies to generate a first electrostatic cleaning field around the first cleaning head to move particulates in the same direction as the first cleaning head; 
 
 wherein moving the first cleaning head with respect to the solar power surface while the first electrostatic cleaning field is generated moves particulates off of the solar power surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electronics include a second cleaning head configured to clean the at least one photovoltaic cell; and 
 wherein the power generator is configured to power the generation of a second electrostatic cleaning field around the second cleaning head. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronics include a first cleaning device motion control module configured to move the first cleaning head in at least a first direction. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronics include a first edge detection module configured to detect a first edge of the solar power surface. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first cleaning device motion control module is configured to move the first cleaning head in at least a second direction, responsive to the first edge detection module detecting the first edge of the solar power surface. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the electronics include:
 a second edge detection module configured to detect a second edge of the solar power surface; and 
 a second cleaning device motion control module configured to:
 move the first cleaning head in at least a first direction; and 
 move the first cleaning head in at least a second direction, responsive to the second edge detection module detecting the second edge of the solar power surface. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first edge detector is configured to detect the first edge of the solar power surface at a first time; 
 the second edge detector is configured to detect the second edge of the solar power surface at a second time, the second time occurring later than the first time; and 
 the first cleaning device motion control module is configured to:
 suspend the motion of the first cleaning head, responsive to the first edge detector detecting the first edge of the solar power surface; and 
 resume the motion of the first cleaning head, responsive to the second edge detector detecting the second edge of the solar power surface. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , the electronics further including a light detection and power management module configured to detect when a voltage level generated by the at least one photovoltaic cell is higher than a first voltage threshold, wherein the first voltage threshold is higher than a minimum voltage required for operation of the power generator. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the light detection and power management module is configured to:
 detect when the voltage level generated by the at least one photovoltaic cell is below a second voltage threshold, wherein the first voltage threshold is higher than the second voltage threshold; 
 provide power to other modules within the electronics, responsive to the light detection and power management module detecting the voltage level generated by the at least one photovoltaic cell is above the first voltage threshold; and 
 remove power from other modules within the electronics, responsive to the light detection and power management module detecting the voltage level generated by the at least one photovoltaic cell is below the second voltage threshold. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a substantially planar housing including:
 a first planar housing side attached to the first cleaning head and directed toward the solar power surface; and 
 a second planar housing side attached to the at least one photovoltaic cell and directed away from the solar power surface.